Published: Thursday, August 1, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 26, 2013 at 9:28 a.m.

Bernie Machen doesn’t much like to talk about himself as the University of Florida’s president for the last 10 years.

“I’m yesterday’s mashed potatoes,” he jokes during a brief interview in the President’s Office on the second floor of Tigert Hall during a recent day of back-to-back meetings.

More like the steak on the plate.

If Machen isn’t inclined to sing his own praises, there are others who will . UF’s Board of Trustees Chairman, David Brown, recently commended Machen for his accomplishments of the past 10 years before launching into the things UF will be doing in the coming 12 months.

Brown credits Machen and his team for overseeing an increase in research dollars from $470 million to $740 million; helping increase the campus footprint by more than 2.8 million square feet of new building space, including new research, student and academic facilities, and leading UF’s seven-year capital plan, which has raised more than $1.7 billion.

<p>Bernie Machen doesn't much like to talk about himself as the University of Florida's president for the last 10 years.</p><p>“I'm yesterday's mashed potatoes,” he jokes during a brief interview in the President's Office on the second floor of Tigert Hall during a recent day of back-to-back meetings.</p><p>More like the steak on the plate.</p><p>If Machen isn't inclined to sing his own praises, there are others who will . UF's Board of Trustees Chairman, David Brown, recently commended Machen for his accomplishments of the past 10 years before launching into the things UF will be doing in the coming 12 months.</p><p>Brown credits Machen and his team for overseeing an increase in research dollars from $470 million to $740 million; helping increase the campus footprint by more than 2.8 million square feet of new building space, including new research, student and academic facilities, and leading UF's seven-year capital plan, which has raised more than $1.7 billion.</p><p><a href="http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e9dcb1fc#/e9dcb1fc/66">Continue reading in our online magazine viewer.</a></p>